The Graduate Schools of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T), in partnership, have established the Preparing Future Leaders (PFL) program as a strong foundation for graduate student professional development and career preparation. The program is designed to provide valuable, transferable skills and knowledge that will prepare currently enrolled, degree-seeking graduate students to be successful and dynamic leaders in their chosen disciplines and careers as they complete their degree.

Early professionalization during graduate school is an important part of preparation for achieving your career goals, whether you are pursuing an academic faculty position or a job in business, industry, government, or the non-profit sector. The free, non-credit workshops, presentations, and symposia conducted by The Graduate Schools of UNCG and N.C. A&T and other university departments focus on building career skills and providing professionalization opportunities that complement your specialization. You may also incorporate professional development activities designed by your home department as appropriate.

We believe that a strong relationship with a faculty member is indispensable to your success as a graduate student, so we have incorporated mentorship as an integral part of the program. With your mentor’s guidance you will compile an electronic portfolio that collects your personal reflections, best practices, and essential job documents as you progress through the program, giving you a competitive edge with polished job materials and clear insights when you are ready to enter the job market.

The PFL program consists of two tracks to better facilitate the kinds of career planning and professional development of core competencies you will need upon entering the professional workforce in your field. Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) is offered for those students who are pursuing a career as a faculty member in academia, emphasizing pedagogical and professional development in areas of teaching, scholarship and service. Preparing Future Professionals (PFP) is tailored to those students who are seeking professional careers in business, industry, government, or non-profit positions, focusing on professionalization, research, community engagement, and leadership and management skills. Students whose main interest lies in one track are welcome and encouraged to explore offerings in the other track.

Preparing Future Faculty is designed for currently enrolled, degree-seeking graduate students who plan to pursue an academic career as teaching faculty. The PFF program is predicted to take two years (4 semesters) to complete, though this is only an estimate as some will take longer or shorter to complete the program requirements. PFF requires you to attend a series of professionalization workshops, lectures and meetings; practice teaching, responsible research and assessment skills; develop job materials and teaching documents; and learn important strategies for searching and landing an academic job. You will also be required to work closely with your choice of faculty mentors to compile an electronic portfolio consisting of personal reflections, essential job materials, evidence of workshop completion, and other relevant documents.

Below is a list of required and elective workshops and meetings you will need to attend for completion of the PFP program. Workshops will be offered on a rotational basis, so be sure to check the PFL website for a complete schedule of workshops offered for the current semester. Be sure to have the workshop presenter or proctor sign your “Workshop Attendance Form” as you attend the required and elective workshops and meetings. Substitution of similar workshops and activities offered by your academic department, professional organizations, or other university departments is allowed with approval from the PFL Coordinator and completion of the “Workshop Substitution Form” found on the PFL website.

†You must complete 3 of the elective workshops. We encourage you to seek out the elective workshops that fit your own professional goals and personal needs.

Associated Program Requirements

Associated with the required and elective workshops and meetings, you will be required to complete the following professionalization activities, and compile evidence and documents of completion in your electronic portfolio:

Complete a one-semester teaching assistantship.

Develop a course syllabus with student learning outcomes for a course within your discipline.

Observe at least 2 undergraduate class sessions in both a large and small class setting and write a summary.

Teach one class period, a lab session, or tutor session while being observed and write a summary of the feedback reflecting on your strengths and weaknesses and the skills you still need to develop.

Research current assessment practices, approaches and/or theories that are relevant to your discipline.

Apply for PFL Award.

Write a review of one governance meeting you attend.

Compose an analysis of the differences between the mission and vision statements of a research university, liberal arts university, and a community college.

Interview a faculty member and writes a summary of the shadow experience.

Compile a resource list of potential funding opportunities.

Apply for conference or panel in your discipline or present at UNCG or N.C. A&T Research Expo.

Prepare essential job documents.

*These requirements are subject to change. You will be notified of any changes in the program requirements.

Preparing Future Faculty Folios
This is a detailed breakdown of the PFF requirements by folios 1-12. Please use this along with the PFF Planning Guide & Checklist to plan and keep track of your progress through PFF.

PFF Portfolio Requirements
This shows you the full program requirements for each individual PFF portfolio folio maintained in Google Drive.

PFF Planning Guide
This Planning Guide shows you all of the requirements for completion of the Preparing Future Faculty track. Please use this Planning Guide as a resource for planning and to keep track of your progress in PFF.

Preparing Future Professionals is designed for currently enrolled, degree-seeking graduate students who plan to pursue business, industry, government or non-profit careers. The PFP program is predicted to take two years (4 semesters) to complete, though this is only an estimate as some will take longer or shorter to complete the program requirements. PFP requires you to attend a series of professionalization and leadership workshops, lectures and meetings; practice presentation, evaluation and assessment skills; develop essential job materials; and learn important strategies for searching and landing a job. You will also be required to work closely with your choice of faculty mentors to compile an electronic portfolio consisting of personal reflections, job materials, evidence of workshop completion, and other relevant documents.

Below is a list of required and elective workshops and meetings you will need to attend for completion of the PFP program. Workshops will be offered on a rotational basis, so be sure to check the PFL website for a complete schedule of workshops offered for the current semester. Be sure to have the workshop presenter or proctor sign your “Workshop Attendance Form” as you attend the required and elective workshops and meetings. Substitution of similar workshops and activities offered by your academic department, professional organizations, or other university departments is allowed with approval from the PFL Coordinator and completion of the “Workshop Substitution Form” found on the PFL website.

Elective Workshops & Meetings†
• Work-Life Balance
• Time Management
• Diversity in Workplace
• Professional Networks and Mentoring
• Creative Use of Technology for Presentations
• Develop a Professional Website
• Developing Interview Questions
• How to Run a Meeting

†You must complete 3 of the elective workshops. We encourage you to seek out the elective workshops that fit your own professional and personal needs and goals.

Associated Program Requirements

Associated with the required and elective workshops and meetings, you will be required to complete the following professionalization activities, and compile evidence and documents of completion in your electronic portfolio:

Deliver a professional presentation at the UNCG or N.C. A&T Research Expo or professional or community organization and write a summary of feedback along with ideas for improvement.

Analyze at least 3 diverse job postings in your career area and develop a set of possible follow up questions to elicit information about the job requirements and responsibilities.

Draft a reflection and a list of skills and knowledge still needed to be a successful applicant in your career field.

Write a review of one governance meeting of the 2 you attend.

Compose an analysis of the differences between the mission and vision statements of a corporation, governmental agency, and a non-profit agency.

Interview a professional and writes a summary of your shadow experience.

Complete a one-semester assignment as a RA, GA or complete an internship and draft a reflection on the experience.

Identify and pursue possible funding opportunities in your field.

Prepare essential job documents.

*These requirements are subject to change.
You will be notified of any changes in the program requirements.

Preparing Future Professionals Folios
This is a detailed breakdown of the PFP requirements by folios 1-12. Please use this along with the PFP Planning Guide & Checklist to plan and keep track of your progress through PFP.

PFP Portfolio Requirements
This shows you the full program requirements for each individual PFP portfolio maintained in Google Drive.

PFP Planning Guide
This Planning Guide shows you all of the requirements for completion of the Preparing Future Professionals track. Please use this Planning Guide as a resource for planning and to keep track of your progress in PFP.

Submit the PFL ENROLLMENT FORM and FERPA WAIVER FORM to the PFL Coordinator in The Graduate School.

Identify faculty mentors and submit a copy of the signed MENTOR/MENTEE FORM to the PFL Coordinator in The Graduate School.

Begin attending PFL workshops and events (recording attendance with the WORKSHOP ATTENDANCE FORM) and compiling documents for the electronic portfolio.

Do I need to have a mentor already identified to sign up for PFL?

No. You don’t need to have a mentor to sign up for PFL. However, you will need a mentor or mentors to complete PFL requirements, but we allow you the time to establish relationships with faculty mentors as you progress through the program and your studies. So, you will eventually need a mentor or mentors to complete PFL requirements but you don’t need one identified for initial sign up.

When can I start the PFL program?

You can begin the PFL program at any time in your graduate studies. The average time it will take to complete the program is 2 years (4 semesters).

Is the program only for Ph.D. students?

No. PFL is an open resource for all degree-seeking graduate students currently enrolled in Master’s or Doctoral programs.

Is there a fee for the PFL program?

There is not a fee for the PFL workshops. If you chose to register for any graduate courses that satisfy some of the PFL requirements regular tuition and fees will apply.

Do I have to pick between the Preparing Future Professionals (PFP) and the Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) tracks when I sign up?

No. If you’re unsure about which track you want to complete you don’t have to commit yourself to one track or the other. We know the complexities of the job market and encourage students to think about using the PFL program to gain a wide variety of professionalization experience. To receive official notification of completion of the program, however, you will need to fulfill all of the requirements for either the PFF or PFP track.

Can I substitute workshops and activities from other departments, universities or professional organizations for credit towards completion of the PFL program?

Yes. The Graduate Schools of UNCG and N.C. A&T have partnered together to offer workshops on both campuses that fulfill the requirements for completion of the PFL program. You will also find that many other university departments offer workshops, training sessions and courses that would be beneficial to your professional development and progress through the PFL program. You are encouraged to seek out and attend these professionalization opportunities and submit the WORKSHOP SUBSTITUTION FORM to get credit toward completion of the PFL program. If you’re in doubt as to whether a workshop, training session or course will apply please contact the PFL Coordinator.

How does travel and parking work between UNCG and N.C. A&T?

Unfortunately, we can’t offer parking passes for off campus visitors attending workshops. We encourage use of the HEAT busses between campuses as a sustainable travel solution between campuses. The HEAT bus schedule can be found at http://www.rideheat.com/. Hourly rate parking is accessible in the campus parking garages and with metered spaces.

Do you assign me a mentor?

No. We believe that it is imperative that our graduate students develop a close mentoring relationship with a faculty mentor for success in their graduate programs and in the PFL program. We think that this choice is best left to the student and faculty members to decide. You can find resources on how to choose and approach prospective mentors as well as insights for making the most of your mentoring relationship on the PFL website. Be sure to fill out and submit the MENTOR/MENTEE AGREEMENT form once you and your mentors have agreed to work together.

What official notification do I get upon completion of the PFL program?

Upon fulfilling all of the requirements of the program a review of your portfolio and documents is conducted by the PFL coordinator for final approval. Upon approval you will receive an official notation on your official university transcripts of completion of the PFL program.

Who do I contact if I have more questions?

The PFL Coordinator is a lovely person and is here to help you with the program. He will be happy to answer any further questions you might have as you think about signing up or progress through the program. Email at: pfl@uncg.edu.

UNCG Preparing Future Leaders FERPA Waiver Form
This FERPA Waiver form is for UNCG students and is required for signing up for the PFL program. You must be LOGGED into your UNCG email in the same browser in order to complete this form.

Preparing Future Leaders Workshop Attendance Form
This form should be completed and uploaded to your electronic portfolio under the corresponding folio as record of your attendance for every PFL sponsored workshop or training session you attend.

Preparing Future Leaders Workshop Substitution Form
This form should be completed and uploaded to your electronic portfolio under the corresponding folio as record of your attendance for every independent workshop or training session you have attended that qualifies for substitution of a PFL sponsored workshop or training session. If you are unsure about whether or not something you have attended will meet the requirements of the PFL program, contact the PFL Coordinator for more information.

Resources for Mentees

The PFL program relies on strong relationships between mentors and mentees to enhance the quality of academic and professional educational opportunities. Working with mentors is highly rewarding and important for gaining valuable feedback and insight for understanding the full range of responsibilities, roles and requirements expected of you as a professional in your chosen career and discipline. Here you will find valuable information, guidelines and strategies for beginning and maintaining successful mentoring relationships.

Information and Guidelines for Mentees
Here you will find a 5 step process for carrying out a successful mentoring relationship from identifying and approaching prospective mentors, to beginning and maintaining a working relationship with your mentors. We highly recommend you read this as you think about which faculty mentors you want to work with in the PFL program.

Preparing Future Faculty Planning Guide & Checklist
This Planning Guide shows you all of the requirements for completion of the Preparing Future Faculty track. Please use this Planning Guide as a resource for planning and to keep track of your progress in PFF.

Resources for Mentors

The Graduate Schools of UNCG and N.C. A&T have partnered together to offer a professionalization initiative for currently enrolled graduate students to gain valuable skills, insights and experiences that will prepare them to be successful in their scholarly and professional endeavors and equip them to be competitive in the global job market. PFL consists of two tracks: 1) Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) designed to prepare graduate students for faculty positions in academia, and 2) Preparing Future Professionals (PFP) aimed at readying future leaders in professional careers in the business, industry, governmental and non-profit sectors.

As you decide on and register for the workshops you will attend, please note that a workshop attendance form or substitution workshop form will need to be completed and uploaded to the portfolios. Please note that if a workshop is online it will be indicated in the title and/or description of the workshop. We invite you to visit UNCG’s Workshops & Events page as you search for workshops.

NCAT Career Development Portal

24/7 Career Counselor
Note: *Preparing Future Leaders – 24/7 Career Counselor is a resource. A number of services (i.e., Interviewing, Questions for a Counselor, Workshops) can be applied to PFF folio 11 and PFP folios 10 and 11.

UNCG Career Services Center Interview Stream

Interview Stream
Note: *Preparing Future Leaders – The Career Services Center is a resource. If you are looking for a way to fulfill the requirement for attending a mock interview, the UNCG Career Services software Interview Stream is an option. If you choose this option, select 10 interview questions and conduct the online interview. Share the interview to pfl@uncg.edu as well as to whoever will be offering feedback (someone at Career Services, your mentor, or another professional or faculty member). Complete the self-assessment and upload evidence of feedback to PFF or PFP folio 11.

Online Modules on Student Assessment

Follow the link at http://pfls.uncg.edu/ to access these modules.
Register from the homepage using your campus email address, and then proceed to take the modules in order. Upload the certificates of completion you will receive in an email for each completed module to your portfolios.
Note: *Preparing Future Leaders – This is a requirement for PFF folio 4